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Former Secretary of State Colin Powell Criticizes Pentagon's Troop Levels in Iraq War

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In a rare instance of an in-house dissenter going public, former Secretary of State Colin Powell has criticized the Pentagon's handling of troop levels in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Powell, a key figure in the Bush administration, urged President Bush to deploy a greater number of troops to deal with unforeseen problems, but his concerns were overruled by the Pentagon's military advisers.

Powell's comments come as at least seven retired generals and several Democrats and Republicans have criticized Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's handling of the Iraq war. Powell, who was secretary of state from 2001-05, said that he made the case for more troops to Gen. Tommy Franks, who commanded U.S. forces in Iraq, and Rumsfeld before the president.

Key Takeaways:

  • Colin Powell, former Secretary of State, criticized the Pentagon's handling of troop levels in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying that he urged President Bush to deploy more troops to deal with unforeseen problems.
  • Powell's concerns were overruled by the Pentagon's military advisers, who believed that the size of the force was adequate.
  • At least seven retired generals and several Democrats and Republicans have criticized Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's handling of the Iraq war.
  • The debate over troop levels began after widespread looting followed the fall of Baghdad and has been fanned by the civilian and military casualties in the violent insurgency that has ensued.
  • As many as 38,661 civilians have been killed, according to the Iraq Body Count website.
  • U.S. military deaths, including civilian contractors, since the invasion in March 2003, amount to 2,401 as of April 28, according to a Department of Defense tally.
  • Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser at the time, defended the troop levels, saying that they were determined by the military commanders most closely involved in the planning.
  • Powell also expressed second thoughts about the Iraq war, calling his presentation to the United Nations before the war a "blot" on his record.

Statistics:

  • As many as 38,661 civilians have been killed, according to the Iraq Body Count website.
  • U.S. military deaths, including civilian contractors, since the invasion in March 2003, amount to 2,401 as of April 28, according to a Department of Defense tally.
  • The number of coalition forces was approximately 148,000 at its peak in 2007, according to the Brookings Institution.

Sources:

  • [From an ITV television network interview]
  • [From a BBC News interview]
  • [The New York Times, March 27]
  • [Iraq Body Count website]
  • [Department of Defense tally]
  • [ABC News, September 2007]
  • [AARP The Magazine, April 2008]

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